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Herwig, Shelden take second at Vail AdventureXstream

ADAM BOFFEYSpecial to the Daily

VAIL – The local team of Gordon Herwig and Kevin Shelden placed second in the two-person open category at this past weekend’s AdventureXstream adventure race in Vail. Herwig and Shelden, who together comprise “Team Two Old Fat Men,” finished second among 50 other duo teams with a time of 9 hours and 5 minutes. The race featured solo competitors, teams of two and teams of four. Team members were required to stay together at all times during the four-stage, 60-mile race which involved mountain biking, trail running and kayaking. “It was a grueling race,” said Shelden, a Breckenridge triathlete who hooked up with Herwig earlier this year to form their team.On the team name, Shelden said with a chuckle, “We are old but I guess fat doesn’t really apply to us. It’s really just an old moniker that Gordon used for some of his past teams.”Regardless of weight or age, in taking second Herwig and Shelden demonstrated both a high level of fitness as well as a proficiency in orienteering. Competitors in the race needed to use topographical maps to find checkpoints throughout the course.Although the weather was sunny on race day, the region received considerable rainfall the day before the race, which made the course extremely muddy. “It was hellacious,” said Shelden. “That was the muddiest, messiest ride of my life.” During the first stage of the race the duo had to stop their bikes every 100 yards to clear mud away from their chains and derailleurs. According to Shelden, what should have taken 90 minutes took three and a half hours. “That part was a real mental battle. Things definitely went smoother after we completed the first leg,” he said.Team Two Old Fat Men will be competing again soon in the Salomon Summit Adventure Race in Frisco on Sept. 24. Shelden has also qualified for the Xterra Off-Road Triathlon National Championship, set for Lake Tahoe on Oct. 1.


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